learn how to use or with the technology e.g. availability to gain an education that either teachers us how to use a computer system or access to an education system that uses technology

get easy access to the technology e.g. does my geographic area have the infra-structure to enable me to access the Internet or am I restricted because I have some form of disability.

What is critical to our consideration of the digit divide is that restrictions are not related to anything that the individual specifically does. For example, a child who lives in a particular part of the world whose school does not have Internet access is not in a position to choose otherwise. There are also cultural and political dimension that can restrict access to technology.

The following links provide a starting point. There 3 to 5 'Only ' links, one of which is a general introduction provided by wikipedia. These are followed by a couple of videos to provide visual stimulation as starting points for discussion. Following the videos is a list of some statistical sites which students can access to investigate analytically what kinds of differences may exist and what trends in access and usage are developing. Finally there is a section which prompts students to consider what actions have been taken to address the digital divide, how successful these have been and what might be done in the future.

Challenge Poverty (with Youtube & Save the Children)

Statistical Data on Digital Divide

The following site can be explored by students to investigate trends in terms of broad Internet usage between regions and countries.
The first link provides general wordwide Internet usage statistics and the second a more detail treatment. Both links provide up todate data.